--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Under the old social philosophy which had…" description: "\"Under the old social philosophy which had governed the Middle Ages, temporal, and therefore all economic, activities were referred to an eternal standa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/hilaire-belloc-2294_activity_under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-ha_604474.png" --- # Under the old social philosophy which had governed the… ![“Under the old social philosophy which had governed the Middle Ages, temporal, and therefore all economic, activities were referred to an eternal standard. The production of wealth, it distribution and exchange were regulated with a view to securing the Christian life of Christian men. In two…” quote by Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/hilaire-belloc-2294_activity_under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-ha_604474.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/hilaire-belloc-2294_activity_under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-ha_604474.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/hilaire-belloc-2294_activity_under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-ha_604474.png) > “Under the old social philosophy which had governed the Middle Ages, temporal, and therefore all economic, activities were referred to an eternal standard. The production of wealth, it distribution and exchange were regulated with a view to securing the Christian life of Christian men. In two points especially was this felt: First in securing the independence of the family, which can only be done by the wide distribution of property, in others words the prevention of the growth of a proletariat; secondly, in the close connection between wealth and public function.” [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Medieval Christian doctrine linked all economic activity to eternal spiritual goals, aiming to protect family independence and tie wealth to public service. **In simple terms:** Old Christian view saw economy as serving eternal life, preventing poverty and linking wealth to public roles. Key Takeaway Consider how values shape economic policies today. Themes economics religion social structure Mood thoughtful critical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - family law - tax policy - social welfare Key Concepts Christian ethics wealth distribution public service Questions to Reflect On - Do modern economies still reflect moral aims? - How should wealth be linked to public good? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christian life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-life/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Distribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distribution/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Eternal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal/) [Eternal Standard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternal-standard-3082027/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Middle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Governed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-governed-1975842/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Prevention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prevention/) [Productions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productions/) [Proletariat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proletariat/) [Property](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/property/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) [Wealth Distribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth-distribution-1518910/) [Wide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wide/) ## Related quotes > [Under the old philosophy which had governed the high Middle Ages things had been everywhere towards a condition of Society in which property was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/under-the-old-philosophy-which-had-governed-the-high-middle-ages/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [ “We know that there is a standard set for us in the heavens, a standard revealed to us in this book \[the Bible\] whih… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-know-that-there-is-a-standard-set-for-us-in-the-heavens-a-standard/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [There is a legitimate concern about wealth distribution in the United States, but the answer is not to scapegoat any individual who makes over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/there-is-a-legitimate-concern-about-wealth-distribution-in-the-united/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [The market economy is very good at wealth creation but not perfect at all about wealth distribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/the-market-economy-is-very-good-at-wealth-creation-but-not-perfect-at/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [I think that the spirit of America is still very much one of where people want to work hard and the majority of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/i-think-that-the-spirit-of-america-is-still-very-much-one-of-where/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [The distribution of wealth is even more unequal than that of income. ...The wealthiest 5% of American households held 54% of all wealth reported…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/the-distribution-of-wealth-is-even-more-unequal-than-that-of-income/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) > [Since 1978 for the bottom half of the wealth distribution male median wages have actually gone down. And I think that's a crucial reason.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-carlson/since-1978-for-the-bottom-half-of-the-wealth-distribution-male-median/) [Tucker Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-carlson/) > [The slave states of Western world are an outgrowth of monopolistic capitalism - an economic system which is opposed to the wide distribution of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-slave-states-of-western-world-are-an-outgrowth-of-monopolistic/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I'll tell you what I'd do if it were up to me: I would establish a strictly controlled distribution network through which I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/i-ll-tell-you-what-i-d-do-if-it-were-up-to-me-i-would-establish-a/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [“The second conclusion, which is the heart of the book, is that the dynamics of wealth distribution reveal powerful mechanisms pushing alternately toward convergence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/the-second-conclusion-which-is-the-heart-of-the-book-is-that-the/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [We will squarely deal with wealth distribution towards the middle class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-kishida/we-will-squarely-deal-with-wealth-distribution-towards-the-middle/) [Fumio Kishida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-kishida/) > [I am totally in line with the fact that I think wealth distribution for carmakers needs to be redimensioned to allow labor to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-marchionne/i-am-totally-in-line-with-the-fact-that-i-think-wealth-distribution/) [Sergio Marchionne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-marchionne/) > [We have to be as passionate about wealth creation, skills, life chances and world class education as we are about wealth distribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-kendall/we-have-to-be-as-passionate-about-wealth-creation-skills-life-chances/) [Liz Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-kendall/) > [By 2015, the top 1 percent of families took home more than 20 percent of income. Wealth distribution was 10 times worse than that:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/by-2015-the-top-1-percent-of-families-took-home-more-than-20-percent/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [The old freedom sufficiently survives in the mind of the wage earner to give him the illusion that, while accepting insurance and maintenance from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-old-freedom-sufficiently-survives-in-the-mind-of-the-wage-earner/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) ## More by Hilaire Belloc > [All men have an instinct for conflict: at least, all healthy men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/all-men-have-an-instinct-for-conflict-at-least-all-healthy-men/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Kings live in Palaces, and Pigs in sties, And youth in Expectation. Youth is wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/kings-live-in-palaces-and-pigs-in-sties-and-youth-in-expectation/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Communism worked honestly by officials devoid of human frailties and devoted to nothing but the good of its slaves, would have certain manifest material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/communism-worked-honestly-by-officials-devoid-of-human-frailties-and/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [I put my pencil upon the paper, doubtfully, and drew little lines, considering my theme. But I would not long hesitate in this manner,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/i-put-my-pencil-upon-the-paper-doubtfully-and-drew-little-lines/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Had there been any existent vital and energetic institution left in Society after the Reformation for the use of small property in coordinated form-that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/had-there-been-any-existent-vital-and-energetic-institution-left-in/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Before the curse of statistics fell upon mankind we lived a happy, innocent life, full of merriment and go and informed by fairly good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/before-the-curse-of-statistics-fell-upon-mankind-we-lived-a-happy/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Of old when folk lay sick and sorely tried The doctors gave them physic, and they died. But here's a happier age: for now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/of-old-when-folk-lay-sick-and-sorely-tried-the-doctors-gave-them/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [It is Mind which determines the change of Society, and it was because the mind at work was a Catholic mind that the slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/it-is-mind-which-determines-the-change-of-society-and-it-was-because/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [For no one, in our long decline,So dusty, spiteful and divided,Had quite such pleasant friends as mine,Or loved them half as much as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/for-no-one-in-our-long-decline-so-dusty-spiteful-and-divided-had/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [The smaller man approaching our modern banking system, which controls all issue of credit and therefore pretty well all our industrial and commercial activities,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-smaller-man-approaching-our-modern-banking-system-which-controls/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Under the old philosophy which had governed the high Middle Ages things had been everywhere towards a condition of Society in which property was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/under-the-old-philosophy-which-had-governed-the-high-middle-ages/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Torture will give a dozen pence or more To keep a drab from bawling at his door. The public taste is quite a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/torture-will-give-a-dozen-pence-or-more-to-keep-a-drab-from-bawling/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Of courtesy, it is much less Than courage of heart or holiness, Yet in my walks it seems to me That the Grace of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/of-courtesy-it-is-much-less-than-courage-of-heart-or-holiness-yet-in/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [The very large units of production and exchange have access to credit on a large scale, sometimes without any cover at all, merely upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-very-large-units-of-production-and-exchange-have-access-to-credit/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [The terror in which English capitalists now stand of organized proletarian resistance gives to the naturally protected craft organizations the power to receive the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/the-terror-in-which-english-capitalists-now-stand-of-organized/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) [Explore all 171 Hilaire Belloc quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) ## More Activity quotes > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [For the longest time, neuroscientists were forced to be passive observers of brain activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gero-miesenbock/for-the-longest-time-neuroscientists-were-forced-to-be-passive/) [Gero Miesenbock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gero-miesenbock/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [I have to consider everything I eat; I consider every activity I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kimball/i-have-to-consider-everything-i-eat-i-consider-every-activity-i-do/) [Charlie Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kimball/) > [Almost all good businesses engage in 'pain today, gain tomorrow' activities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/almost-all-good-businesses-engage-in-pain-today-gain-tomorrow/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 3,263 Activity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/activity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Under the old social philosophy which had governed the Middle Ages, temporal, and therefore all economic, activities were referred to an eternal standard. The production of wealth, it distribution and exchange were regulated with a view to securing the Christian life of Christian men. In two points especially was this felt: First in securing the independence of the family, which can only be done by the wide distribution of property, in others words the prevention of the growth of a proletariat; secondly, in the close connection between wealth and public function.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hilaire Belloc" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-had-governed-the-middle-ages/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Activity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-had-governed-the-middle-ages/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/hilaire-belloc-2294_activity_under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-ha_604474.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/hilaire-belloc-2294_activity_under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-ha_604474.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d6/hilaire-belloc-2294_activity_under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-ha_604474.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Under the old social philosophy which had governed the Middle Ages, temporal, and therefore all economic…” — Hilaire Belloc", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hilaire Belloc", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Under the old social philosophy which...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-had-governed-the-middle-ages/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/under-the-old-social-philosophy-which-had-governed-the-middle-ages/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```